August 25, 2025
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference holding in Enugu was on Monday being the second day of the ongoing conference besieged by protesters calling for the release of Hon. Bright Ngene.
Barrister Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly and NBA member, representing Enugu South Urban Constituency under the Labour Party, is currently serving a seven-year jail term following his conviction by a magistrate court over a community dispute.
Supporters of the incarcerated lawmaker however, allege that the case and sentence were politically motivated.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions which includes “Release Bar. Bright Ngene now, a political prisoner of conscience, NBA please save our democracy,” the protesters accused the Enugu state judiciary of frustrating attempts to appeal Ngene’s conviction, noting that at least two judges had recused themselves while the case remained unassigned at the state High Court.
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Addressing journalists, protest leader Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration since July 2024 as unjust. He alleged that due process was not followed in his trial and appealed to the NBA and senior lawyers attending the conference to intervene.
Although security operatives prevented the demonstrators from entering the main hall of the International Conference Centre, venue of the NBA conference, their protest was peaceful and orderly around the venue of the NBA conference.
While in prison Barrister Bright Ngene, reportedly won the recently conducted bye-election for his constituency.
